Summary

NAME: US LAKHANI 2 270405N TAPE: EF05/0380 IN_TIME: 10:14:04:14 DURATION: 00:02:47:00 SOURCES: Various DATELINE: Various - 27 April 2005/File RESTRICTIONS: See Script SHOTLIST: APTN Newark, New Jersey - 27 April 2005 1 Wide shot of New Jersey courthouse 2 US Attorney Christopher J Christie walks to microphones 3 SOUNDBITE (English): Christopher J Christie, US Attorney: Today is a triumph for the Justice Department in the 'war against terror' I think the evidence proved obviously beyond a reasonable doubt to this jury that Mr Lakhani was engaged in a scheme willingly, knowingly, anxiously to sell arms to those he thought were going to use those arms to kill American citizens 4 Wide shot of reporters 5 SOUNDBITE (English): Henry Klingeman, Lakhani's attorney: Well I can't speculate about his psychology, but it's obvious he enjoyed the attention, it's obvious he was looking to make money, it's equally obvious that he hadn't been involved in anything like this before 6 Reporter finishing asking question, pan to Klingeman 7 SOUNDBITE (English): Henry Klingeman, Lakhani's attorney: We asserted the defence of entrapment, it was rejected by the jury, but it's still a compelling defence and history will have to judge 8 Artist sketch of courtroom scene 9 Artist sketch of Lakhani in courtroom 10 SOUNDBITE (English): Henry Klingeman, Lakhani's attorney: If he gets a long sentence he will almost certainly die in prison, he's in very poor health AP PHOTOS - No Access Canada/Internet Date and Location Unknown 11 Two stills of IGLA missile ABC - No Access Internet FILE - Date and Location Unknown 12 Aircraft flying using flares which are designed to protect against missile attacks 13 Various of shoulder-launched missile being fired APTN FILE Newark, New Jersey - 13 August 2003 14 Cars with Lakhani inside drive up to courthouse on day of Lakhani arraignment FBI surveillance tape 15 August 2003 - New Jersey 16 Various of FBI surveillance tape that was shown to the jury, which FBI claims shows Lakhani in a hotel room, voices heard are English translation of Urdu conversation between Lakhani and a cooperating witness (translation arrangement by agreement of both parties in the trial) STORYLINE: A federal jury convicted a former British clothing merchant Wednesday of attempting to sell shoulder-launched missiles to what he believed was a 'terrorist' group planning to shoot down airliners Jurors reached their verdict on Hemant Lakhani on their second day of deliberations Lakhani has been held without bail since his arrest in a hotel room near Newark Liberty International Airport on August 12, 2003 The sting operation involved undercover agents from several nations The US government claimed Lakhani had agreed to arrange the sale of more than 50 missiles to a government informant posing as a representative of the Somali-based Ogaden National Liberation Front Lakhani's attorney, Henry Klingeman, told the jury in closings last week that his client was the victim of entrapment In his summation, Assistant US Attorney Brian Howe argued that Lakhani pushed the deal and took steps to avoid getting caught 69 year-old Lakhani was convicted of attempting to provide material support to terrorists, money laundering and other charges He showed no emotion as the verdict was read Sentencing was scheduled for August 8 Klingeman did not say whether there would be an appeal Outside court, US Attorney Christopher J Christie called the verdict a triumph for the Justice Department in the war against terror He called Lakhani a victim of his own greedy, evil, deceitful conduct Three others connected to the case had already pleaded guilty to money laundering or related charges but denied connections to 'terrorist' organizations They are awaiting sentencing Lakhani's trial began in January, but had several breaks while he underwent medical treatment Jurors saw a covertly made video of the hotel meeting that showed Lakhani laughing and joking with the informant about using missiles against commercial planes as the two men looked out a window overlooking the airport In a box was a disabled Russian-made shoulder-fired missile